Scrubbing-machine



(No Model.) 251155554115551..

R. HPFHEINS. V SRUBBING MACHINE Wim/Lambo mi CUM 2 sheets-shea 2,

(No Model.)

R HOPFHEINS SGBUBBING MACHINE. Y

Patented Dc. 10, 1895.

wilma/ooe@ am 6U Ml AN DREW BvGHMiAM,PNDT-UTHOAWASHINFIDNDL.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN IIOFFHEINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.l

SCRUBBING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,971, dated December 10, 1895.

l Application filed February 18, 1895. Serial No. 538,888. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, it 71u01/ concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN HoFFHEINs, of Chicago, in Cook county, in the State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Scrubbing-Machines and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and accurate description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan View of my machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 4E represents the method of packing the tank-lid. Fig. 5 is an elevation and a section of a vbearing-wheel. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one side frame. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the same on line x Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the mop-cylinder. Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. l0 is a transverse section of wal ter-pipe in the mop-cylinder.

I am aware that machines have been made for the purpose of scrubbing floors and that all of them employ brushes in one form or another to scrub the floor and that they have receptacles for the necessary water and means for taking up again the surplus Water. Therefore I do not claim, broadly, either of those features; but I believel the improvements which I have invented are essential to a satisfactory and successful machine.

That the following description and claims may be clearly understood I will irst briefly enumerate the points which I believe to be novel in my machine.

First. The side frame is in one piece, preferably of cast metal, and it carries fixed provision for bearings of all the working parts of the machine and also internal water-ways for the passage of water from one tank to another.

Second. The water-tanks to supply water to the scrubber and the tank to receive mopwater are in communication, so that the same Water may be employed over and over.

Third. The distributing water-tank is provided with a settling-chamber to receive the solid matters removed from the floor with the mop water.

Fourth. The mop is longer than the scrubber, so that it does not leave behind it streaks of loose water.

Fifth. The face of the mop -cylinder to which the mop is attached is reticulated, being preferably made of perforated metal, andthe squeezing-roller squeezes the mop directly upon the perforated cylinder, thus dispensing with one squeezingroller.

Sixth. The propelling-handle is reversible, so that the scrubber may be operated from either side.

There are other subordinate points of improvement which Will be described and claimed, but which it is not necessary to enumerate here.

The frames II, I have heretofore made of cast-iron galvanized, but they may be made of any other proper material which will withstand the action of water. Cast-iron covered with zinc and known as galvanized appears to be preferable, both for cheapness and adaptability.

The frames H are so fashioned that they embrace within themselves pivots for the arms of the bearing-wheels E F, pivots for the mop-cylinder C, points of attachment for the bail J of the handle and position racks I for the same, bearings for the scrubber G, point of attachment for the squeezing-roll L, and points for attaching the water-tank A and the water-way O.

The scrubbing-brush G and the mop-cylinder C are driven by friction and caused to revolve'in direction opposite to the direction of advance, so that neither scrubber nor mop simply roll upon the floor, but actually and forcibly rub thereon as they pass over it. The required friction is secured by the bearingwheels E F, which run upon the floor andagaiust the spindles of the brush and mop, respectively, and cause them to revolve in a direction opposite to that of advance. The amount of this drivin g-friction is determined, primarily, by the weight of the machine, but is capable of being increased by the operator by bearing down upon the propelling-handle.

I find it advantageous to introduce some elasticity in the combination of frictional driver and driven, and this Isecure in a highly-satisfactory manner by means of wheels E F, which are made of solid elastic material, like vulcanized rubber, molded'upon proper pieces of metallic tubing to form wearing-surfaces for the pivot-pin. The wheels E F are ICO also mounted at the free ends of a'rinslk 7c.,

which are'pivoted at Q Q to the frame H, sol

that said Wheels are free to rise and fall as the pressure upon them may be increased or diminished.

The Water-Way O isV usually made wvitl'lin the frame H by casting the same with an open groove, which is afterward closed and y e y i l the driving-Wheel E.

it may be closed at the ivi'll of the operator,

and then none but clear Water Will pass to the scrubber.

, At each sideof the machine there is a frame l l squeeze' out the Water which is taken up in the mop-cover h, and said Water runs down Qtlirougl the perforatons of the cylinder N II. Said frames are duplicates, except that they are right and left.

``The s crubbi` g-lbrushG is an ordinary` cy lindrical brush, having its pif/'ots journaled in the fraine II, and to facilitate the removal of said brush I prefer to make said journal or Apivot bearings in slots f, although this. is manifestly a convenience and not a necessity. The Wheel F bears against the shaft o'f the brush G and Vcauses it to revolve ivhen said ivheel revolves. y d The vater-tank A is located above the brush G andisprovided 4with a concave bottom to set over the brush like a saddle. A rovir oflholes m are provided along the front part `v ?ntlirough which vvater is discharged upon the brush, These holes are closed an cont-rolled by the cylindrical eccentric valve Z, which may be operated bythe hand-Wheel Y. Packing-rings p are placed oiipthe spin;

dle of said valve Within the tank and betueen said valve and the Wall of said tank to prevent leakage at the hole through which thevalve-spindle passes.

The tank A has a cover B, hinged at @and itis necessary that said cover shall iit tightly and not permit Water to slop out as the machine is ilioved backward and forward Iputa packing-strip a on the edges of .the cover B, which packs the joint securely ifvlien the cover is forced down to itsplac'e.

At the rear side of the e brush the tank A has a deep depression W, into which. the vater-pipe V discharges soiled Water froin the mop-tank, and said depression YV constitutesa settling-chamber to yreceive and retain the ysolid matters brought over with the Water from the mop-tank.

The mop, which folloivsafter the scrubber and removes the free VWater from `the iioor, consists of a cylinder of retioulated material through which the Water VWill pass freely as squeezed out of the inop bythe squeezingroll. Heretofore I have made this cylinder of perforated non-corrodible metal N, and

the saine' is covered ivitlr spongy fibrous covering 7l, of some material capable of absorbing quickly and in considerable quantity the Water which may be left free upon the floor by the scrubber G. The cylinder N is lsupported by two heads C, which may be cast integral with aprojecting circular ledge D, which constitutes a friction-surface for It has also a tubular hub q. W'ithin said mop-cylinder a tube T extends axially from end to end, and at each l end it enters the Water-Way O and may coninder revolves.

stitute the real axle upon which the n1op-cyl- A'tier0d g passes through the tube T and projects through the frame f H at each end. A nut andl Washer at each 1 end outside' said frame enable said rod to tie the frames H together.

, A mop-Water tank U is hung upon4 the tube T Within the mop-cylinder N. d Said tank is open along its top, and directly above said opening the squeezingu'oll; L is placed to through Said opening' into' tte tanku. y

The pi'e T has one' orM more openings in its side, through yvhicli Water Will run away from the tank U, through the Water-Way O or its equivalent, to the tank When the Wate`rlevel in the tank U becomes higher than the Water-level in the tank A.

I f it is `p1f'.oferted `to drauAT Water from the bottom of the tank U or from any point belov-`r the anis, the pipeT` inay e extended to such point by means of the pendent portion S.

The sqeziglroneri. is farmed at the ends of tivo springs or elastic supports M, the fixed ends ivhe'reof are fastened to the franie II, at r, and rI find it convenient to hold said supports iii place by ineans of a common screw and a commen washer' R.

In from or the serutbig-brush G, I piace a pendent aprond, attached `to the tank A. This apron may be inadelof flexible' material or may be rendered flexible by a hinge or attaching-Strip eg. This is te prevent Splashing forward 0f the Water thrown olf from the brush G as it revolves.

I Y The handle-bail .I is pivoted to the frame H at t. It is preferably composed of an' elastic Vyvire' rod, like steel, is heldin place by its otvii elasticity. The position racks I are so' located that the handle may stand at oonvenient angles for use' 'or to 'support the' handle upright When the machine is not in use. When the handle is to `be 4changed from one position t aimuier",` the bail Springs apart sufficiently to permit its passage into or out of the rack'sI Without trouble. y f

Asoeke't K, rigidly tied to the `middle of the bail J, Srves to receive an end 'of an ordinary Wooden 'stick or handle with which to manage and operate the machine.

When `the'` inacliiiie is to be operated, ivater is poured into the tank A. When itssurface rises to the level of the tube T, it will over- IOO IIO

flow into the tank U and fill that to the level of the Water in the tank A.

Water which is discharged on the brush G through holes m will be mostly taken up again by the mop and returned to the tank U, and as the discharge is continued from tank A and water is continually being returned to the tank U it follows that there will be a constant disturbance of Water-level between the two tanks, and therefore Water will be continually passing from tank U to tank A, and thus the same water Will be used over and over until the unrecovered portion has so reduced the quantity in the reservoirs that it Will no longer flow over the arch in tank A from the chamber W to the discharging-chamber n. A fresh supply will then be required. A hole w in the head of cylinder N serves as a convenient means for emptying the tank U,.when desired.

I claim as newl. In a scrubbing machine arotatable brush, a supply tankwith discharge openings to supply water to the floor, a rotatable mopping cylinder to mop the floor, a receiving tank within the mopping cylinderand a water Way or channel to conduct Water from one of said tanks to the other.

2. A scrubbing machine having a rotatable brush driven by the supporting wheels, a supply tank located above said brush, a perforated mopping cylinder covered with absorbing material, a stationary tank within the mopping cylinder and Waterways to connect both tanks.

3.' In a scrubbing and mopping machine, in combination with a revolving brush anda revolving mop a supply tank and a receiving tank, one or more water Ways connecting both tanks, and means to open and close said water way at thewill of the operator.

4. A scrubbing machine provided with two water tanks, combined with the side frames H, provided Awith an internal water-Way O, to connect said tanks as set forth.

5. In a scrubbing machine, in combination with a revolving brush and a revolving mop, a distributing water tank, and a receiving tank for the Water taken up by the mop, and a connecting water way, whereby the mop Water may be re-distributed from the distributing tank.

6. In a scrubbing machine, a cylindrical revolving scrubbing brush, a distributing tank A, having a concave bottom to cover said brush Within said concavity, a discharge chamber u, provided. with water exits and a valve, and a settling chamber W, on the other side of said concavity, combined With a tank to receive the mop Water, and a Water Way to connect said mop Water tank with said settling chamber, whereby the water may be reused, as set forth.

7. In a scrubbing machine, a revoluble mop cylinder N, provided with a mop Water tank Within it, a perforated, central tube T extending out through the hubs of said cylinder, a water Way in connection with the end of said tube and a distributing tank A, also in connection With said water Way, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a scrubbing machine, a mop cylinder having within it a tank for mop water, a central perforated tube T provided with a pendent tube S, a water-way in connection with said tube and a distributing tank also in connection With said Waterway, whereby, water discharged from said mop cylinder will be taken up from the bottom of the same as set l0. In combination with the tank and operative parts of a scrubbing machine, the side frames I-I provided with pivot bearings for the arms k, the brush G, the mop cylinder N, the handle bail .I and position racks I as set forth.

ll. In combination, the revolving brush, the tank A, provided with the concave bottom and the compartments W' and n, said compartment n, being provided with Water exits fm, and the eccentric cylindrical valves Z, substantially as set forth.

12. The mop cylinder N of reticulated metal, the internal tank U for mop water and the squeezing roll L, mounted upon an elastic support substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In combination with the mop cylinder N, the interior tank U, the squeezing roll L, the elastic supports M, and the side frames H, H, to which said supports are connected as set forth.

,REUBEN HOFFHEINS.

Vitnesses:

GEO. W'. HAINES, CHAs. M. HoUsEMAN.

IOO 

